Celebrate Sacramento Poetry Week Oct. 20 26 with cash prize contest and events

Sacramento Poet Laureate Andru Defeye invites all Sacramentans to join in celebrating Sacramento Poetry Week, taking place from Oct. 20-26.

Mayor Anne Rudin originally declared October 26 as Sacramento Poetry Day in 1986. In 2022, Andru Defeye revived the celebration with support from the American Academy of Poets. This year, it has expanded into a week-long series of events, recognizing Sacramento as the "poetry capital of California."

The week will highlight Sacramento's dynamic poetry community, featuring events such as Mahogany Urban Poetry Oct. 23 and Speak Out! Sacramento open mic Oct. 25, and a cash-prize poetry slam at The Sacramento Poetry Center.

On Oct. 26, Sacramento Poetry Day, show a poem from a Sacramento poet for free rides on Sacramento Regional Transit and for free entry to the Crocker Art Museum.

"As Sacramento's poetry community continues to grow and evolve, we wanted to create something that honors our city's rich literary history while pushing the boundaries of what poetry can do," said Defeye. "This week is about more than just words on a page-it's about community, creativity, and healing. From classrooms to public transit, poetry is going to be woven into the fabric of our everyday lives."

The celebration features unique opportunities for youth and adults to engage in poetry:

Contests: Sacramento County residents of all ages can enter cash-prize poetry contests with prizes up to $500. All entries must be original, and poets retain full rights to their work.

Educational initiatives: Free bilingual lesson plans for K-12 students, meeting core standards for poetry, language, and comprehension, are available through the "Ten Twenty Six" curriculum.

Community events: A variety of poetry events throughout the week, including Mahogany, Speak Out Sac, and the city's first-ever Spanish-language poetry event.

Awards gala: The Sacramento Poetry Awards Gala on Oct. 26 will feature performances and recognize local poets. The event is free and open to the public.

Poetry pays program: Show a poem by a Sacramento poet for free rides on Sacramento Regional Transit or entry to The Crocker Art Museum on October 26.

Health support for poets: Partnering with the Sacramento Native American Health Center to offer mental health support through therapy and Medi-Cal enrollment for poets.

About the Sacramento Poet Laureate Program

Established in 2000, the Sacramento Poet Laureate program aims to bring the power of poetry and the spoken word to life in the Sacramento community. Andru Defeye has served as the city's poet laureate since 2020

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